Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-10-24
aUGOSTA MAINE MONDAY MORNING. OCTOBER a. 1887.

Was present when Barron was taken frol
the vault When went up into bank n,
ticei that door leading to Masonic hall va
partly open. Same evening went up wit
others il to the ball to see if any PARTIES er
concealed there. Next morning made q % or
careful search when found
Cracker Crumbs
on plush of settee and cigar ashes on tn
floor.
Cross exsmined-The settee where tn,
cracker crumbs we're discovered was in south
east corner of hall next the street n
smoking is permitted in the hall and ther,
Was none there to nv knowledge. There
were three sets of keys to hall. Mr. Barron
bad enc, Levi Bridgmsn had one and mysel
the other.
Joseph II. Larabee sworn: Have live i,
Dexter II years, 1 visited Masonic hal
the day after the Barron tragedy. JOSEPH
Cambell was with me. There were others in
the hall when we entered. Nobody wa,
smoking or eating crackers. saw
cigar ashes and cracker. as described b,
Atwood Cobb.
John F. Harvey sworn: Have lived il
Med6eld, Mass, of and on since years O
age. 1t has been my home, though followed
the sea a number of years. Lived in Med
field in 1876 in house of David L. Stain
knew Of existence of
A Gang
organized by Stain for criminal purpose,
consisting of David L. Stain, Oliver Crom-
we'll, William Bell. John Harvey and Chas
F. Stain. This gang perpersted all kind.
of robberies TO be thought Of As rule
these were planned at the house of David l.
Stain. The method was for each and every.
one to find anything worth stealing and stea
it. (Laughter). On large jobs the gans
would meet aud talk matters over and plar
how they could best be done. Our head
quarters were at the house David L. Stair
where the booty was generally brought
though it was sometimes hid in the woods un
til divided. Stain usually got the
Lions Share
of the plunder when the division was made
and generally managed to steal the greater
part of what the others got. loud laughter
in which Stain joins } l continued a mem.
ber of the gang until Feb. 1878 when Wm.
Bell and myself were arrested for robbing
depot and were sentenced to three years in
the State prison. served out my sent ance,
with exception of time off which | got fol-
good behavior. Since that time have had
nothing to do with Stain and have lived al
honest life Have been foreman on tht
farm of a man named G. j. Bradbury. Stad
with him till first of last January ther
worke for his nearest neighbor in whose
employ still remain. During my connec
ton with the Stain gang frequently hear(
them
Talking about Maine.
They said it was better field for operation
than Massachusetts, that it was not so wei
guarded. Heard them speak of Dexter, Gar
diner, Waterville, Winthrop. Skowhegan
and other places in Maine. They spoke oi
these places as if familiar with them. Firs
heard of Dexter bank robbery from Olive
Cromwell, the prisoner in the fall of 1882
At this time Stain was in Jail. Cromwell
was helping me at my work. Speaking ot
old Stain he said, "that old devil is plottiD.
something to hurt me-" Speaking of young
Stain he said he was down in Maine, that
short time before had written his father for
S25. Said the old man ought to have sen
it. "Why" he said THAT young man know
Enough to Hang us Both.
| asked him what it was and he said abou
the Dexter Bank robbery. l did not know
about this as | was in prison at the time
when it occurred. l asked him about it and
he told me about it. Said the cashier Bar
ron was tied up and gagged and put into &
vault where he died and that he and Stain die
the lob. The next June or July this tall
was again brought to his (Harvey's) mind
by conversation. Here the counsel foI
defence objected and Harvey discontinued
this part of his narrative.)
Cross examined-Did not know at tint
whether Cromwell told truth or not,
knew he was bad enough to do it. Stain
married my sister. Have seen both him and
Cromwell have
False Boards
and moustaches. Have received no offer OF
reward My expenses have been paid wher
ever have been. Beyond that l have re
ceived nothing. When Stain was in prison
he wrote me and wanted me to come ant
swear all manner of things. | still havC
those letters in his own hand writing in m,
possession.
Mr.. Crosby: Do you have them with you
Witness No, but trust we shall hav
them at a later trial. (Sensation.)
At this point Attorney General Bake
called upon Mr.. E. f. Burns, the fowery
young journalist whom the Boston Glob
kindly sent to Maine to show the countr
scribes how to write up an affair like tn
Barron tragedy. Mr.. Burns had begai
his little exhibition of journalistic skill will
four column ''intervew" with Cromwell a
the Bangor Jail, in which he had worked
Zephyrs,
autumn leaves, singing birds, soulful Hathos
few things which Cromwell might hav
said and many things which he probab
thought he should have said. When calle
upon to corroborste this "interview" unde
oath and in court of justice, even the stou
heart of Mr., Burns failed him and he doub
| less regretted that he had not boiled tbs
''interview" down about three columns.
II should rather not do so," he said, i
answer to the request of Mr.. Baker.
"But desire TO ask you some questions.
81 shall refuse to answer any,"
every well we will make out a summon
| for you and there are officers in this hall {
serve it."
"Come Mr.. Burns" interposed the Judge
"You had better not delay the court; if tn
attorney general asks you question you ha
better answer him, it will not take more tha
ten minutes to make out summons for you.
81 shall not do so voluntarily"
Gen. Baker then explained that his ev
dence would not be voluntary, and very re
luctantly Mr.. Burns came forward and ws
sworn. He didn't spin any interview" var
however. Oh no! He was quite conserv'
tive. When asked if Cromwell had sal
reported, "Its all up with US" be said tn
ha yamamhored II he might have sai